Performance-based characterization of a contact stabilization process for slaughterhouse wastewater

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Wastewater Treatment
• Industrial Microbiology

Background:

• Slaughterhouse wastewater poses significant pollution challenges due to high organic loads.
• Effective treatment is crucial for environmental protection and regulatory compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of an effluent treatment plant at a Kuwaiti slaughterhouse.
• To assess the impact of operational parameters on wastewater treatment efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of influent and effluent parameters, including Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and suspended solids (SS).
• Evaluation of biokinetic coefficients (floc uptake, substrate removal efficiency, specific reaction rate, maximum reaction rate, Yield) in contact and aeration tanks.
• Testing of the contact process under varying contact loadings (mg COD g(-1) VSS).

Main Results:

• The treatment process achieved high removal efficiencies: 77% for soluble COD and 82% for insoluble COD.
• Optimized contact loading (120-150 mg COD g(-1) VSS) resulted in high substrate removal efficiency, reaction rates, and good settleability (SVI < 150 mL g(-1)).
• Higher contact loadings (>150 mg COD g(-1) VSS) led to a significant decline in treatment performance and settleability.

Conclusions:

• The evaluated effluent treatment plant effectively reduces the pollution potential of slaughterhouse wastewater.
• Controlling contact loading is critical for optimizing the performance of the activated sludge system in slaughterhouse wastewater treatment.